Compilation film Solo Leveling: ReAwakening, featuring first two episodes of season 2, in Pittsburgh, from December 5.

The compilation film Solo Leveling: ReAwakening will play in Pittsburgh from December 5.

Solo Leveling -ReAwakening- features a catch-up recap of the first season coupled with an exclusive sneak peek of the first two episodes of the highly anticipated second season in one momentous theatrical fan experience. Over a decade has passed since a pathway called a "gate" which connects this world and another dimension suddenly appeared, and people with superhuman powers called "hunters" have been awakened. Hunters use their superhuman powers to conquer dungeons inside the gates to make a living, and Sung Jinwoo, a hunter of the lowest rank, is considered the Weakest Hunter of All Mankind. One day, he encounters a double dungeon, a high-level dungeon hidden inside a low-level one. In front of a severely wounded Jinwoo, a mysterious quest window pops up. On the verge of death, Jinwoo decides to take on the quest, which makes him the only person who can level up.

It plays locally, so far, at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

Registration now open for newest sessions of Adult Mandarin Classes through the Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning.

Registration is now open for newest sessions of Adult Mandarin Classes through the Taiwan Center for Mandarin Learning.

Embark on an extraordinary linguistic journey by learning Chinese! Because of this incredible support, we’ve crafted an environment that goes beyond language acquisition—it’s an adventure into the heart of Mandarin-speaking culture. Seize the opportunity to not just learn a language, but to unlock a world of possibilities and enrich your personal and professional journey. Don’t miss out on the chance to thrive in a community where language and culture converge seamlessly. Join us and let the language of opportunity be your guide!

Classes are Sundyas from 10:00 am to 12:45 pm at South Hills Middle School (map), and the next sesion runs from January 12 through April 6, 2025. The cost is $120 per term, with discounts for referrals available. Space is limited and registration can be completed online.

Keshi performing in Pittsburgh, July 23, part of Requiem World Tour.

Vietnamese-American singer-songwriter Keshi will perform in Pittsburgh on July 23, 2025. A BuzzFeed interview this fall he touches upon his sound the directions it's taken, and the way it's been categorized:

My music has taken a lot of shapes ever since I started. I started in Lo-Fi, and then I started writing lyrics to my music that was kind of emo — very emotionally driven and bittersweet — because that's the kind of emotion that I like to write about and tap into. And then it was just "Oh yeah, this music's for the sad boys." Then, I was like, okay, well, let me make some songs where I'm a little bit more confident, that harkens back to R&B and feeling sexy. So then I came out with "Beside You" and then "Somebody" on Gabriel, and then suddenly public perception shifted to a fuckboy narrative. And I was super confused by that.

The concert will be at Stage AE on the North Shore, and tickets will go on sale November 22.

"We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes resume at Carnegie Library in Oakland, Saturdays from December 7.

via the Republic of Korea's Flickr page.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branch in Oakland will resume its free "We Learn" Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Korean classes Saturdays from December 7 through February 22, after finishing its most recent session yesterday. ;

Work progresses on national ramen chain KYURAMEN (九汤拉面) and bubble tea place T-Baar in Cranberry, but in a different spot.

When national ramen chain KYURAMEN (九汤拉面) was announced for Cranberry in September, the township listed the address as a storefront in the Cranberry Mall. Howevr, it was recently updated to a strip mall a mile further north, where signage is up and work is still underway. It will open in the "Streets of Cranberry" development, between Condado Tacos and Rally House. As for the East Liberty location, the joint KYURAMEN-TBaar spot there was most recently aiming for a Fall 2024 opening and is currently hiring for all positions.

Comedian Ronny Chieng in Pittsburgh as part of The Love To Hate It Tour, November 30.

Comedian Ronny Chieng will perform in Pittsburgh on November 30.

Ronny Chieng is a stand up comedian, actor and Correspondent on "The Daily Show". In addition to two Netflix stand-up comedy specials, Ronny has starred in "Crazy Rich Asians", Marvel's "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings", "M3GAN", "American Born Chinese", "Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.", "Vacation Friends 2", "Joy Ride" and will star in the upcoming Hulu series "Interior Chinatown".

The show will be held at the Byham Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map) at 7:00 pm, and tickets are available online.

2019 Korean film Parasite (기생충) in Pittsburgh, from November 22.

The 2019 Korean film Parasite (기생충) will play in Pittsburgh from November 22, part of Row House Lawrenceville's "Family Am I Right?" film series.

Bong Joon-ho’s brilliant social commentary turned thriller returns to Row House. All unemployed, Ki-taek’s family takes peculiar interest in the wealthy and glamorous Parks for their livelihood until they get entangled in an unexpected incident.

It plays through the 28th and tickets are available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler St. (map).

2016 Japanese animated film A Silent Voice (聲の形) in Pittsburgh, December 15 and 16.

The acclaimed 2016 Japanese animated film A Silent Voice (聲の形) will return to Pittsburgh on December 15 and 16.

“A Silent Voice” follows the poignant and moving story of Shoya Ishida, a school bully, and Shoko Nishimiya, a young girl with a hearing disability. Their story begins in sixth grade when Shoko transfers to Shoya’s elementary school and quickly finds herself bullied and isolated due to her hearing disability. Years later, the tables turn, and Shoya finds himself the victim. “A Silent Voice” depicts the struggles and challenges of adolescence alongside coming-of-age outside the norm.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

Four films comprise this year's Studio Ghibli Week at Row House Lawrenceville, from November 29.

The Row House Lawrenceville has announced its lineup for Studio Ghibli Week starting later this month: 1998's Kiki's Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便), 1984's Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (風の谷のナウシカ), 2001's Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し), and 2023's The Boy and the Heron (君たちはどう生きるか).

Studio Ghibli Week begins November 29 and runs through December 5. Tickets and movie information is available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler St. (map).

Asian beauty store Maison Beauty opening in Squirrel Hill on November 16.

Asian beauty store Maison Beauty will open in Squirrel Hill on November 16, and will have a number of specials to mark the occasion.

Grand Opening Day Special Offers: First 48 customers who spend $25 or more will receive a free keyring lip gloss!! Available in two different colors!!
First 25 customers who spend $40 or more will receive 5% off their purchase!!

It describes itself as "Pittsburgh’s one stop shop for all Asian Beauty products," and signage went up for it earlier this month at 2021 Murray Ave. (map). It will open at 11 am on the 16th.

2024 Japanese animated film Ghost Cat Anzu (化け猫あんずちゃん) in Pittsburgh, from November 14.

The 2024 Japanese animated film Ghost Cat Anzu (化け猫あんずちゃん) will play in Pittsburgh from November 14. A synopsis, from the distributor:

Precocious tween Karin finds herself abandoned by her father in rural Japan. Living in a temple with her grandfather, she meets Anzu, a giant “ghost cat” and notorious layabout tasked with looking after her. Distrustful of her new guardian, Karin sabotages Anzu’s odd jobs for the townsfolk and befriends the eccentric local forest spirits. In an effort to win Karin over, Anzu accidentally makes a deal with the devil, and all Hell breaks loose. 

Ghost Cat Anzu is co-directed by renowned artist Yoko Kuno, who makes her feature directorial debut, and Nobuhiro Yamashita, the acclaimed director of Linda Linda Linda. Co-produced by Shin-Ei Animation and Miyu Productions with music by legendary musician Keiichi Suzuki (EarthBound), Ghost Cat Anzu is a wildly funny ride in the countryside.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online. Please note, some shows are in Japanese with English subtitles, while others are dubbed in English.

Japanese animated movie OVERLORD: The Sacred Kingdom (劇場版 オーバーロード 聖王国編) in Pittsburgh through November 20.

The upcoming Japanese animated movie OVERLORD: The Sacred Kingdom (劇場版 オーバーロード 聖王国編), which oepned in the Pittsburgh area on November 7, will remain here through at least November 20.

After twelve years of playing his favorite MMORPG game, Momonga logs in for the last time only to find himself transported into its world playing it indefinitely. Throughout his adventures, his avatar ascends to the title of Sorcerer King Ains Ooal Gown. Once prosperous but now on the brink of ruin, The Sacred Kingdom enjoyed years of peace after construction of an enormous wall protecting them from neighboring invasions. But, one day this comes to an end when the Demon Emperor Jaldabaoth arrives with an army of villainous demi-humans. Fearing invasion of their own lands, the neighboring territory of the Slane Theocracy is forced to beg their enemies at the Sorcerer Kingdom for help. Heeding the call, Momonga, now known as the Sorcerer King Ains Ooal Gown, rallies the Sorcerer Kingdom and its undead army to join the fight alongside the Sacred Kingdom and the Slane Theocracy in hopes to defeat the Demon Emperor.

It is scheduled to play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and, until the 14th, the Cinemark theater in Robinson. Some screenings are in Japanese with English subtitles while others are dubbed in English, and tickets are available online.

Andrea Gevurtz Arai and "The 3.11 Generation: Changing the Subjects of Gender, Labor, Environments" at Pitt, November 14.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host Dr. Andrea Gevurtz Arai and her talk "The 3.11 Generation: Changing the Subjects of Gender, Labor, Environments" on November 14.

Andrea Gevurtz Arai teaches Japan and East Asia anthropology and society courses in the Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington. Arai’s first book, The Strange Child: Education and the Psychology of Patriotism in Recessionary Japan (Stanford U. Press, 2016) is a long-term multi-site fieldwork study of the social and cultural effects of the bursting of the financial bubble in the early 1990s in Japan and the protracted recession that followed. This ethnography delves deeply into how the recession provided the conditions for government and corporate “neoliberalization,” replacing former support and security in education and labor with new logics of self-responsibility, self-development and patriotism, privatizing public services; shifting cultural ideologies and producing a profound “uneasiness” about everyday life. The book traces the way that the young became the subjects of these unfamiliar or “strange” conditions and the objects of blame for not being able to fulfill new requirements of human capital development. The Strange Child tracks the hardships of this altered national-cultural environment as well as introduces some of the surprisingly creative responses of the recessionary generations.

Upcoming Philippine film Hello, Love, Again in Pittsburgh, from November 14.

The upcoming Philippine film Hello, Love, Again will play in Pittsburgh from November 14.

After fighting for their love to conquer the time, distance and a global shutdown that kept them apart, Joy and Ethan meet again in Canada but realize that they have also changed a lot, individually.

It plays locally at the Cinemark theater in Robinson, in Tagalog with English subtitles, and tickets are available online.

"Sounds Upstairs: Flying Strings Youth Ensemble," November 10 in Oakland.

The Flyinkg Strings Youth Ensemble will perform November 10 at the Carnegie Library in Oakland.

The Flying Strings Youth Ensemble is a talented group of musicians blending traditional Chinese and Western music. With members from across the U.S. playing diverse instruments, including pipa, guzheng, erhu, zhongruan, flute, violin, cello, and piano, the ensemble is committed to both musical excellence and community service. This program takes place in the South Wing Reading Room

The event runs from 2:00 to 3:00 pm and is free and open to the public. The Oakland branch of the Carneige Library of Pittsburgh is located at 4400 Forbes Ave. (map), accessible by numerous city bus lines.

Album making-of documentary RM: Right People, Wrong Place in Pittsburgh, from December 5.

The upcoming film RM: Right People, Wrong Place will play in Pittsburgh-area theaters from December 5.

A film that chronicles artist RM's eight-month production of his second solo album, “Right Place, Wrong Person,” while candidly recording the endless concerns of the person Kim Namjoon, and the things he immerses himself in and loves.

It plays locally December 5 through 8, and December 14, at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark in Robinson, and tickets are available online.

"The Promise of Intimacy: Digital Lives of Queer Filipinx/a/os in Manila and Los Angeles" at Pitt, November 7.

The University of Pittsburgh's Gender, Sexuality, & Women's Studies Program will present Dr. Paul Michael Leonardo Atienza and his talk "The Promise of Intimacy: Digital Lives of Queer Filipinx/a/os in Manila and Los Angeles" on November 7.

Mobile digital technologies are transforming how people communicate with one another. They offer a promise for quick and easy platonic, romantic, and/or sexual connections. With the intensification of people’s reliance on and everyday engagement with mobile digital media platforms, the study of mediated intimacies is relevant and needed more than ever before. Spanning several years of ethnographic research, both in Manila and Los Angeles, queer Filipinx/a/o men in my study complained that it was difficult to find meaningful connections through socio-sexual apps. In their pursuits of intimacies, queer Filipinx/a/o men in my study experienced frequent forms of failure, generating various affective responses that shape their actions and beliefs. In the accounts of these experiences, failure is not a totalizing experience. Nor do these experiences necessarily lead to definite endpoints. Such possibilities still create many forms of exclusions to intimacy, yet the queer Filipinx/a/o men who shared parts of their lives continue to aspire, to hope for an experience of intimacy. Some openings and possibilities inspire responses and alternative paths toward the realization of brief moments of connection, and small moments of pleasure. My study seeks to understand queer Filipinx/a/o men’s digital lives and how their experiences inform complex negotiations on and offline in the search for connection, especially when feelings are amplified and complicated by social categories of race, ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality.

It runs from 1:00 to 2:00 pm in room 2322 Cathedral of Learning.

Chinese film The Unseen Sister (乔妍的心事) in Pittsburgh, from November 7.

The Chinese film The Unseen Sister (乔妍的心事) will play in Pittsburgh from November 7.

Qiao Yan (played by ZHAO Liying) is a big star in China, acclaimed for her performances and popular with audiences. But she is tiring of her gilded life and feels ready to break with her manager/business partner Shen Haoming (played by HUANG Jue). Her long-lost sister (played by XIN Zhilei) suddenly turns up in Beijing, soon after Qiao Yan has fallen victim to an anonymous attempt at extortion. Qiao Yan finds herself losing control of events as she’s plunged into memories of her distant childhood in a village in Yunnan Province (South-west China, close to the border with Myanmar) and her fraught relationships with her mother and father. Before long she has to juggle decisions about her career with escalating events which threaten to overwhelm not only her emotional stability but also her entire sense of her personal identity.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online.

2024 action film Weekend in Taipei in Pittsburgh, from November 7.

The 2024 action film Weekend in Taipei, set in the Taiwanese capital and featuring a number of Taiwanese actors in co-starring roles, plays in Pittsburgh-area theaters from November 7 through November 14.

John Lawlor is a pit-bull DEA agent married to his job -- there's not a bad guy he can't stop, nothing he won't sacrifice to close out a case. Joey Kang is a top "Transporter" in Taipei -- fast-driving and fast-thinking, she's difficult to pin down, impossible to catch. The two of them weren't supposed to fall in love, but fate brought them together... before forces of crime and corruption tore them apart. Now, 15 years later, fate puts Joey and John on a collision course during a weekend in Taipei. And the two will discover that the only thing harder than falling in love... is falling back in love.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, the AMC Classic Mt. Lebanon, and the AMC Classic Westmoreland, and tickets are available online.

Registration now open for Pittsburgh Taiko beginner workshops, November 10, November 24, and December 15.

Registration is now open for Pittsburgh Taiko beginner workshops, held November 10, November 24, and December 15 at their studio in Bellevue.

Pittsburgh Taiko is offering several beginner workshops in November and December for people who just want to give taiko a try, or folks who might be interested in joining our performing group. No previous experience necessary!

Each workshop is a 3-hour introduction to taiko, including some taiko history and culture and focusing on hands-on basics. You’ll learn how to stand, how to hit, and some simple patterns that come together to make a percussion melody.

Read more and register at JASP's website! https://japansocietypa.org/events We're excited to see you there!

Registration is required and may be completed online. The studio is located at 2 N Balph Ave, 2nd Floor, in Bellevue (map).

Pittsburgh Opera presents Madama Butterfly, featuring an entirely Japanese and Japanese-American creative team, March 2025.

Pittsburgh Opera will present Madama Butterfly in March 2025 with an entirely Japanese and Japanese-American creative team. PennsylvAsia readers can save 20% on tickets through an exclusive promo code.

MADAMA BUTTERFLY

Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa • MARCH 22, 25, 28, 30, 2025

His escape is her cage.

In this groundbreaking new production created by an all-Japanese and Japanese American creative team, Madama Butterfly’s story is transported to a fantastical realm where reality and dreams intersect.

Pinkerton puts on a VR headset and transports us into a vibrant virtual reality playground where he has ultimate control. As his avatar, a U.S. Navy Lieutenant, he can seduce and marry his fantasy girl and abandon her just as easily. But to Cio-Cio San, this is no game and the love and betrayal she feels is all too real.

Enveloped in Puccini’s stunning music, this visually beautiful production is the perfect match. Pittsburgh Opera is proud to partner with Cincinnati Opera, Detroit Opera, and Utah Opera to co-produce this reinvention of Puccini’s classic, uncovering new and resonant meaning for all audiences to enjoy.

 

Pennsylvasia readers can save 20% with the promo code POASIA!

Tickets are now available online. The performances are held at the Benedum Center in downtown's Cultural District (map).

Fanmade: Enhypen in Pittsburgh, November 8 and 9.

The 2024 documentary Fanmade: Enhypen will play in Pittsburgh on November 8 and 9.

FANMADE offers a peek into the global K-pop sensation ENHYPEN's journey and their deep connection to their fans, called ENGENEs, during their tour.

The Hollywood Reporter writes:

The film follows parallel journeys between the group and Engenes. It will show Enhypen as they perform on their U.S. arena tour, building towards the Samsung Galaxy Fanmade concert, where five female fans come together to create a unique experience for the band and the fans, according to a release.

It is scheduled to play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, and tickets are available online.

Asian beauty store Maison Beauty coming soon to Squirrel Hill.

Maison Beauty, an Asian skincare and cosmetics store, is coming soon to Squirrel Hill. It describes itself as "Pittsburgh’s one stop shop for all Asian Beauty products," and will be opening at 2021 Murray Ave. (map).

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan performing in Pittsburgh, November 16.

The Cloud Gate Dance Theater of Taiwan will perform in Pittsburgh on November 16.

Claimed as “Asia’s leading contemporary dance theater” (The Times), Cloud Gate has set out to engage with local history, culture, and subject matter through classical, folk, and modern dance for over 50 years. Cloud Gate combines their practices in Qi Gong, martial artist, modern dance, street dance, and ballet—transforming ancient aesthetics into a thrilling celebration of motion.

Cloud Gate shares 13 Tongues by artistic director CHENG Tsung-lung, a work based on Bangka/Wanhua, the oldest district of Taipei, and legendary 1960s street artist “Thirteen Tongues”. Through imagination and storytelling recalling childhood memories and visual art, 13 Tongues evokes centuries of human endeavor, behavior, and belief.

The performance will be held at the Byham Theater in downtown's Cultural District (map). Tickets are now available online.

Bubble tea place Tapi Lab coming soon to Oakland.

Signage is up for Tapi Lab on Fifth Ave. in Oakland. The bubble tea place will be located at 3606 Fifth Ave. (map), what was most recently, and briefly, Gussy's Bagels & Pizzeria.

Theatrical release of first three episodes of Dragon Ball DAIMA (ドラゴンボールDaima) in Pittsburgh, from November 10.

The first three episodes of the 2024 Japanese animated series Dragon Ball DAIMA (ドラゴンボールDaima) will play in the Pittsburgh area from November 10. A brief synopsis, from the distributor:

The world English dub premiere of “Dragon Ball DAIMA”, the newest series in the Dragon Ball universe, will debut in U.S. theaters, featuring the first three episodes of the series.

Before the film, there will be a special introduction from the Japanese voice of Goku, Masako Nozawa.

It is scheduled to play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, t the Cinemark theaters in McCandless, Monroeville, and Robinson, and at Pittsburgh Mills. Tickets are available online.

Upcoming Japanese animated movie OVERLORD: The Sacred Kingdom (劇場版 オーバーロード 聖王国編) in Pittsburgh, from November 7.

The upcoming Japanese animated movie OVERLORD: The Sacred Kingdom (劇場版 オーバーロード 聖王国編) will play in the Pittsburgh area from November 7.

After twelve years of playing his favorite MMORPG game, Momonga logs in for the last time only to find himself transported into its world playing it indefinitely. Throughout his adventures, his avatar ascends to the title of Sorcerer King Ains Ooal Gown. Once prosperous but now on the brink of ruin, The Sacred Kingdom enjoyed years of peace after construction of an enormous wall protecting them from neighboring invasions. But, one day this comes to an end when the Demon Emperor Jaldabaoth arrives with an army of villainous demi-humans. Fearing invasion of their own lands, the neighboring territory of the Slane Theocracy is forced to beg their enemies at the Sorcerer Kingdom for help. Heeding the call, Momonga, now known as the Sorcerer King Ains Ooal Gown, rallies the Sorcerer Kingdom and its undead army to join the fight alongside the Sacred Kingdom and the Slane Theocracy in hopes to defeat the Demon Emperor.

It is scheduled to play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark theater in Robinson. Some screenings are in Japanese with English subtitles while others are dubbed in English, and tickets are available online.

Fresh International Market now eyes February 2025 opening.

Fresh International Market is eyeing a February 2025 opening for its Pittsburgh location in Point Breeze. The large Asian grocery was announced in 2023 and was initially aiming for a Summer 2024 opening. The location at 7511 Thomas Blvd (map) will also house Ineffable Cà Phê, a Vietnamese coffee shop and cafe that opened in Lawrenceville in 2017. The Fresh International Market press release from March 2023 has more details about the store:

New tenant Fresh International Market will offer authentic Asian flavors to Pittsburgh customers.

A major grocery store chain is set to open its seventh store in Pittsburgh's North Point Breeze neighborhood, within the Rockwell Park innovation center. Known for its unique selection of international ingredients and authentic Asian cuisine, the market's new store will occupy the entire 40,000 RSF Apollo building.

Of the new store, Rockwell Park Principal Al Lardo shares: "We are thrilled to welcome Fresh International Market to Rockwell Park and the North Point Breeze community. This new store will be a fantastic addition to the city's vibrant food scene. The store's unique selection of international ingredients and prepared meals will provide greater convenience and comfort for local residents." He noted that the arrival of Fresh International Market would also contribute to the continued growth and development of Rockwell Park: “The opening of Fresh International Market at Rockwell Park marks a significant milestone for the Rockwell Park’s growth and development as a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and community engagement."

According to Fresh International Market Founder and President Bowen Kou, the store aims to become a part of the local community:

"Fresh International Market is excited to join the vibrant Rockwell Park community and offer our unique range of international brands and Asian cuisine to local residents. We are happy to become a part of this beautiful and dynamic place and look forward to contributing to its growth and development. Our goal is to be more than just a grocery store, but a destination where customers can discover new flavors and expand their culinary horizons."

The store will be located in the Apollo building on 7511 Thomas Blvd, which was built in 1906. The construction work is expected to take up to 15 months.

2023 film Godzilla Minus One (ゴジラ-1.0) returns to Pittsburgh, from October 31.

The 2023 film Godzilla Minus One (ゴジラ-1.0) will return to Pittsburgh from October 31 to mark the Godzilla franchise's 70th anniversary.

The Academy Award® Winning film is back in theatres to celebrate the King of the Monsters’ 70th anniversary, with approximately 13 minutes of exclusive bonus content to mark the release of the first film. Japan, devastated after the war, faces a new threat in the form of Godzilla. How will the country confront this impossible situation?

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the AMC Loews Waterfront several local theaters including the AMC Loews Waterfront, Chartiers Valley Luxury 14, and the Cinemarks in North Hills and Ronbinson through November 7, and tickets are available online.

2001 Japanese animated film Metropolis (メトロポリス) in Pittsburgh, November 3, 4, and 6.

The 2001 Japanese animated film Metropolis (メトロポリス) will play in Pittsburgh on November 3, 4, and 6 as part of an Anime Expo Cinema Nights series. (It was originally announced for shows on November 4, 7, and 10.)

Anime Expo Cinema Nights Presents: Osamu Tezuka’s Metropolis, where it's man against machine in this film based on the classic manga (comic) by Osamu Tezuka, the godfather of Japanese anime and manga. In the late 1940s, long before Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion established Osamu Tezuka as one of the most influential animators of all time, the legendary illustrator created the classic manga Metropolis. Set in the future, Metropolis is a grand city-state populated by humans and robots, the cohabitants of a strictly segmented society. Detective Shunsaku Ban and his sidekick Ken-ichi search for a rebel scientist, to arrest him and seize his latest creation, Tima, a beautiful young girl. But when they locate him, Shunsaku quickly realizes that the eccentric genius is protected by a powerful man and beyond their reach. A retro-futuristic cautionary tale, Metropolis is spectacularly rendered, combining the best in Japanese cel animation with the latest in digital technology.

It it scheduled to play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark in Robinson. Tickets are available online; please note, some shows are in Japanese with English subtitles while others are dubbed in English.

2019 Korean film Parasite (기생충) in Pittsburgh, from November 22.

The 2019 Korean film Parasite (기생충) will play in Pittsburgh from November 22, part of Row House Lawrenceville's "Family Am I Right?" film series.

Bong Joon-ho’s brilliant social commentary turned thriller returns to Row House. All unemployed, Ki-taek’s family takes peculiar interest in the wealthy and glamorous Parks for their livelihood until they get entangled in an unexpected incident.

It plays through the 28th and tickets are available online. The single-screen theater is located at 4115 Butler St. (map).

Concert film Babymetal: Legend-43 in Pittsburgh, December 11 and 15.

The upcoming concert film Babymetal: Legend-43 will play in Pittsburgh December 11 and 15.

Anime Expo Cinema Nights Presents a special concert film of the band BABYMETAL with their worldwide tour Legend-43. In April 2023, SU-METAL (Vocal, Dance), MOAMETAL (Scream, Dance), and MOMOMETAL (Scream, Dance) entered a new stage as the newly born BABYMETAL. Since then, they have embarked on their largest world tour, "BABYMETAL WORLD TOUR 2023 - 2024," which took them to 25 countries, including Japan. The headline tour, excluding festivals and guest acts, drew a cumulative audience of more than 280,000 people for a total of 98 performances. The final chapter of the world tour, the first Okinawa performance "TOUR FINAL IN JAPAN LEGEND - 43", has been fully filmed. The film is BABYMETAL's first live film that allows viewers to experience all of the diverse music, unique worldview, production that only a tour final can offer, and the overwhelming performance of BABYMETAL, which has evolved even further during their world tour.

Babymetal performed in the Pittsburgh area in September 2023. The movie is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark in Robinson, and tickets are available online.

1989 Japanese animated film Kiki's Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便) in Pittsburgh, October 26 - 30.

The 1989 Japanese animated film Kiki's Delivery Service (魔女の宅急便) will play in Pittsburgh October 26 through 30, the next installment in Ghibli Fest 2024. A synopsis, from the distributor:

Celebrate this beloved coming-of-age story from the legendary Studio Ghibli, creators of Spirited Away, and Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki, about a resourceful young witch who uses her broom to create a delivery service, only to lose her gift of flight in a moment of self-doubt.

It is a tradition for all young witches to leave their families on the night of a full moon and fly off into the wide world to learn their craft. When that night comes for Kiki, she embarks on her new journey with her sarcastic black cat, Jiji, landing the next morning in a seaside village, where her unique skills make her an instant sensation

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and AMC Classic Westmoreland, the Phoenix Theaters Luxury 14 + PTX in Briedgeville, and the Cinemark theaters in Monroeville, North Hills, and Robinson. Tickets are available online; the October 26, 28, and 30 shows are in Japanese with English subtitles, while the October 27 and 29 shows are dubbed in English.

Page Turners Book Club: Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, December 12 in Oakland and online.

The December installment of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's Page Turners Book Club is Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, held on December 12 at the Main branch in Oakland and online.

Join us once a month for discussions as lively as the page-turning titles we read!! December’s discussion will be on the Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa, translated from the Japanese by Eric Ozawa.

Note: This book discussion is a hybrid event. Attendees are welcome to join in-person, which takes place in the Director’s Conference Room on the first floor of CLP-Main Library, or virtually using the link provided in your RSVP confirmation email. Some copies of the title will be available at CLP-Main at the New & Featured desk. Newcomers are always welcome!

This title is available for checkout in our Catalog, and also as an eBook on Hoopla and as an eAudio on Hoopla.

The event runs from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. A synopsis:

Fanmade: Enhypen in Pittsburgh, November 8 and 9.

The 2024 documentary Fanmade: Enhypen will play in Pittsburgh on November 8 and 9.

FANMADE offers a peek into the global K-pop sensation ENHYPEN's journey and their deep connection to their fans, called ENGENEs, during their tour.

The Hollywood Reporter writes:

The film follows parallel journeys between the group and Engenes. It will show Enhypen as they perform on their U.S. arena tour, building towards the Samsung Galaxy Fanmade concert, where five female fans come together to create a unique experience for the band and the fans, according to a release.

It is scheduled to play locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront, and tickets are available online.

2024 movie My Hero Academia (僕のヒーローアカデミア THE MOVIE ユア ネクスト) remains in Pittsburgh through October 30.

The 2024 Japanese animated movie My Hero Academia (僕のヒーローアカデミア THE MOVIE ユア ネクスト), which opened in Pittsburgh on October 10, will remain here through at least October 30.

Izuku Midoriya, a U.A. High School student who aspires to be the best hero he can be, confronts the villain who imitates the hero he once admired.

It plays locally at the AMC Loews Waterfront and tickets are available online. Please note, some shows are dubbed in English while others are in Japanese with English subtitles.

"Dream Super-Express : A Cultural History of the World's First Bullet Train" at Pitt, October 29.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center will host Dr.Jessamyn Abel and her talk "Dream Super-Express : A Cultural History of the World's First Bullet Train" on October 29 as part of the regular Asia Now lecture series.

A symbol of the "new Japan" displayed at World's Fairs, depicted in travel posters, and celebrated as the product of a national spirit of innovation, the Tōkaidō Shinkansen—the first bullet train, dubbed the "dream super-express"—represents the bold aspirations of a nation rebranding itself after military defeat, but also the deep problems caused by the unbridled postwar drive for economic growth. At the dawn of the space age, how could a train become such an important symbol? In Dream Super-Express, Jessamyn Abel contends that understanding the various, often contradictory, images of the bullet train reveals how infrastructure operates beyond its intended use as a means of transportation to perform cultural and sociological functions. The multi-layered dreams surrounding this high-speed railway tell a history not only of nation-building but of resistance and disruption. Though it constituted neither a major technological leap nor a new infrastructural connection, the train enchanted, enthralled, and enraged government officials, media pundits, community activists, novelists, and filmmakers. This history of imaginations around the monumental rail system resists the commonplace story of progress to consider the tug-of-war over the significance of the new line. Is it a vision of the future or a reminder of the past, an object of international admiration or a formidable threat? Does it enable new relationships and identities or reify existing social hierarchies? Tracing the meanings assigned to high-speed rail shows how it prompted a reimagination of identity on the levels of individual, metropolis, and nation in a changing Japan.

The talk starts at 12:00 pm in 211 David Lawrence Hall (map) and is free and open to the public.

Ebisu Japanese Life Store soft opening in Squirrel Hill on November 1; Grand Opening scheduled for November 2.

Ebisu Japanese Life Store has announced the soft opening for its first Pittsburgh location will happen on November 1, with the Grand Opening scheduled for November 2. Signage went up for Ebisu a short time ago at 5846 Forbes Ave. (map), the former location of Panda Supermarket before that grocery store relocated in 2021. There are a number of giveaways scheduled for the opening if customers hit certain purchase thresholds (for instance, a snack gift pack for spending $39.99 or more).

Founded October 2013 in Osaka, Japan, Ebisu is a unique life store that offers thousands of product categories from Japan. Quality, happiness, and harmony are core values of Ebisu. High-quality comes from our willingness to provide the best products to our consumers, happiness is the feeling a consumer gets when shopping in our store and harmony is when the consumer experiences everything we have to offer!

Ebisu Japanese Life Store is a Chinese chain specializing in Japanese goods, with its stores featuring cosmetics, snacks, homegoods, stationary, gacha machines, and more.

Ebisu Japanese Life Store coming soon to Squirrel Hill.

An Ebisu Japanese Life Store is coming soon to Squirrel Hill, going into 5846 Forbes Ave (map), the spot formerly occupied by Panda Supermarket before it moved down the block three years ago.

Founded October 2013 in Osaka, Japan, Ebisu is a unique life store that offers thousands of product categories from Japan. Quality, happiness, and harmony are core values of Ebisu. High-quality comes from our willingness to provide the best products to our consumers, happiness is the feeling a consumer gets when shopping in our store and harmony is when the consumer experiences everything we have to offer!

The former Panda was long rumored to be Jho's Pool Hall, but development stalled and the "for lease" signs multiplied.

1982 Japanese animated film Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space (機動戦士ガンダムⅢ めぐりあい宇宙編,) in Pittsburgh, October 23 and 27.

The 1982 Japanese film MMobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space (機動戦士ガンダムⅢ　めぐりあい宇宙編) will play in Pittsburgh on October 23 and 27, the final installment of the three-part AXCN Gundam Fest showing the films compiled from the initial Gundam TV series.

Amuro Ray and the rest of the White Base crew, now denominated the 13th Autonomous Corps, return to outer space to support the rest of the Earth Federation forces for the decisive battle against the Duchy of Zeon's forces.

It plays locally, in Japanese with English subtitles, at the AMC Loews Waterfront and the Cinemark in Robinson, and tickets are available online.

University of Pittsburgh to offer Korean major from Fall 2025.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures has announced it will offer a Korean major from Fall 2025. Over the last decade, Korean has seen some of the greatest enrollment growth among foreign languages in US universities, and the major helps to satisfy the demand at Pitt. The department also offers majors in Chinese and Japanese.

"Lengger: A Dance Workshop" with Rianto, November 12 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh will host Rianto and "Lengger: A Dance Workshop" on November 12.

This dance workshop will be led by Rianto.

Rianto is an Indonesian-born, Japan-based dancer, choreographer, and actor, trained in classical Javanese dance from a young age. He specializes in cross-gender traditional dance form of Lengger Banyumas. Rianto was born in 1981 in Banyumas, Indonesia. Rianto learned to dance the culturally significant lengger dance at the High School for the Arts (SMKI) in Banyumas, Indonesia. He later studied choreography at the college-level Institute of the Arts (ISI) in Surakarta, central Java. Since 2003, Rianto has been based in Tokyo, where he founded the Dewandaru Dance Company, a classical Javanese dance company. Rianto has performed with many international companies and choreographers, including the Akram Khan Company and Choy Ka Fai's SoftMachine.Rianto is a master of Lengger Lanang, a dance that expresses gender, body, and construction through a man performing as a woman. Rianto has worked to preserve the dance by establishing Rumah Lengger, a center in Banyumas that trains young dancers in the style; and collaborating with the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) to document the dance using motion capture technology.

The workshop runs from 11:00 am to 12:15 in room 132, Music Building (map).

Japanese Nationality Room Reopening Ceremony, November 2 at University of Pittsburgh.

The Japanese Room Committee of the Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs is holding a Japanese Nationality Room Reopning Ceremony on November 2, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. The Japanese Nationality Room, located in room 324 of the Cathedral of Learning, was dedicated on July 25, 1999.

Greenfield's Wai Wai closes, reopens as Gold Ladle (金汤勺·蜀道香), a Sichuan spot.

Bloomfield Chinese restaurant Wai Wai opened a second location in Greenfield in May, but it was recently replaced by Gold Ladle, which:

offers an authentic Sichuan dining experience that tantalizes the taste buds. With a focus on bold flavors and fresh ingredients, this cozy eatery is perfect for both casual diners and those looking for a culinary adventure. The welcoming atmosphere and attentive staff ensure a delightful visit every time.

The awning came down from Wai Wai a few days ago and was replaced yesterday with window signage for the new spot. Wai Wai was the next in a series of American Chinese places a series of restaurants at 4219 Murray Ave. over the decades. It was, however, plagued by its own set of health code violations and shaky customer service.

Gold Ladle's menu is available online, and it is also served by local delivery services like Fantuan.

Upcoming Japanese animated movie OVERLORD: The Sacred Kingdom (劇場版 オーバーロード 聖王国編) in Pittsburgh, from November 7.

The upcoming Japanese animated movie OVERLORD: The Sacred Kingdom (劇場版 オーバーロード 聖王国編) will play in the Pittsburgh area from November 7.

After twelve years of playing his favorite MMORPG game, Momonga logs in for the last time only to find himself transported into its world playing it indefinitely. Throughout his adventures, his avatar ascends to the title of Sorcerer King Ains Ooal Gown. Once prosperous but now on the brink of ruin, The Sacred Kingdom enjoyed years of peace after construction of an enormous wall protecting them from neighboring invasions. But, one day this comes to an end when the Demon Emperor Jaldabaoth arrives with an army of villainous demi-humans. Fearing invasion of their own lands, the neighboring territory of the Slane Theocracy is forced to beg their enemies at the Sorcerer Kingdom for help. Heeding the call, Momonga, now known as the Sorcerer King Ains Ooal Gown, rallies the Sorcerer Kingdom and its undead army to join the fight alongside the Sacred Kingdom and the Slane Theocracy in hopes to defeat the Demon Emperor.

It is scheduled to play locally, so far, at the Cinemark theater in Robinson. Some screenings are in Japanese with English subtitles while others are dubbed in English, and tickets are available online.

Upcoming Philippine film Hello, Love, Again in Pittsburgh, from November 14.

The upcoming Philippine film Hello, Love, Again will play in Pittsburgh from November 14.

After fighting for their love to conquer the time, distance and a global shutdown that kept them apart, Joy and Ethan meet again in Canada but realize that they have also changed a lot, individually.

It plays locally at the Cinemark theater in Robinson, in Tagalog with English subtitles, and tickets are available online.

Japanese visual kei metal band JILUKA in Pittsburgh, April 2025, as part of North American tour; tickets go on sale today.

The Japanese visual kei metal band JILUKA will perform in the Pittsburgh area on April 3, 2025, supporting Imminence as part of The Return of The Black Tour throughout North America this fall and next spring. Tickets for the show at the Roxian Theatre will go on sale at 10:00 am EST today, October 16.